Last week saw the 73rd EICMA International Motorcycle Show take place in Milan.
Bridgestone, the world’s largest tyre manufacturer, were one of the main draws at the exhibition, showcasing new products, innovations and the wide range of Battlax tyres for all types of riders and motorcycles.
The biggest announcement from Bridgestone was the new Battlax Hypersport S21 – which was fitted on the stunning new 1-litre Yamaha R1.
Bridgestone have combined the proven wet platform of S20 EVO with innovative new features to upgrade dry performance to create the new Battlax S21, giving hypersport riders the sort of handling they could only dream of until now.
Jake Rønsholt, Managing Director, Consumer Business Unit, Bridgestone Europe, said: “We wanted a tyre that gives riders the best that these new superbikes can offer. By keeping top level wet performance while upping stability and cornering grip, Bridgestone has achieved this with Battlax S21.”
Many of the improvements brought to S21 were achieved using Bridgestone’s new Ultimate Eye (U-EYE) indoor testing facility, making it the very first tyre to benefit from this investment in the new facility. U-EYE visualises the contact behaviour of a tyre under different speeds and conditions, analyses contact patch pressure distribution, and helps find the optimal combination of compound, tread design, construction and profile.
Check out this short Battlax S21 promotional video from Bridgestone:
Also on display for the first time was the Battlax Racing W01 (pictured above). This is Bridgestone’s new flagship wet racing tyre derived directly from their time in MotoGP.
Designed around the tread pattern of the 2015 MotoGP™ wet, W01 is the latest example of Bridgestone’s ability to spin off its Grand Prix experience for the benefit of riders everywhere.
Also exhibited on the Bridgestone stand was the first all-electric Saroléa Manx 7 superbike homologated for the road, fitted with the latest Battlax RS10 racing street tyres. This Manx 7 street bike is directly derived from Belgian Saroléa SP7 superbike which competed strongly in the Isle of Man TT Zero races in both 2014 and 2015. Bridgestone provides technical support and tyre expertise to the Belgian manufacturer in a joint commitment to sustainable mobility – and this homologation is a big leap forward in the journey towards zero-emission motorcycling.
Other new products on display include size expansions as Bridgestone moves to continually cover the whole market:
- Battlax T30 EVO – expanded to a full range of sizes for 2016.
- Battlax Adventure A40 – expanded to offer further sizes for popular big adventure machines.
- Battlax SC – Premium quality scooter tyre currently undergoing a large expansion in the range of sizes in response to the proliferation of the scooter market in Europe.
Finally, Bridgestone’s stand in Milan showcased the recently-launched Battlecross X20, X30 and X40: a premium motocross line-up for all types of terrain, developed on the track with professional riders in top competitions.
All Bridgestone’s motorcycle & scooter tyres are available to the trade from their main UK distributor – Cambrian Tyres!
If you’re in the motorcycle trade, we’ve got everything you need from Bridgestone at the best possible prices!
